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Neil ashdown

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Posts posted by Neil ashdown

  1. Surely the floor of the garage is at a level considerably lower than the bottom edge of the door and I would expect the door frame to already have a flush cill?   If you can identify the fire door to it's manufacturer or it's certification you will be able to find out the requirements for the threshold and Section 12.3 of BS 8214: 2016 Timber-based Fire Door assemblies - Code of Practice provides guidance about smoke sealing at the threshold.

  2. If the door leaf can be identified to the manufacturer or it's fire resistance performance certification it should be possible to check the lock requirements.  Maybe the door leaf has been over-morticed at the keyhole and lock-case?

    Surprised at the use of spring hinges on such a critical fire door, usually a controlled self-closer would be used meeting the requirements of EN1154 minimum power size 3 .  At the very least, I would check that the door self-closes reliably to the door frame rebate stop completely from any opening position in a safe and controlled closing action. 

  3. 1) Contact the door leaf manufacturer for advice.

    2) How critical is the fire door to life safety? Would replacement provide an improvement commensurate with risk?

    3) Are there alternatives to replacement in mitigating the risks around the non-compliance issue? (given that the door will need to be repaired to accept a smaller lock)

  4. Start with the Responsible Person at the building.   They should be aware of the fire strategy, by taking advice from a competent Fire Risk Assessor where necessary, which doors need to be fire rated and which of those should provide restricted cold smoke spread.

    Naturally, some doors will be more critical to fire safety than others and the RP should be aware of this.  If they are not aware they should seek advice from a Competent Person.

     

  5. Some, not all, timber fire door leaves have evidence of fire resistance performance for use in metal frames.  Do you have reason to believe the doors are unsuitable? and how critical are the doors to the fire strategy at the building?  are the sort of questions you should ask. 

    If you have concerns over the safety of the doors you could contact a professional fire door inspector at https://afdi.org.uk/category/find-a-fire-door-inspector/ for advice.

  6. Assuming the door is timber-based.

    In the door-closed position the flexible seal should be 'just contacting and giving an even contact with the floor'   or   'with a leakage rate not exceeding 3 cubic metres per hour per metre at 25Pa  when tested to BS476 part 31.1 or BSEN 1634-3'.  this is taken from BS 8214: 2016 Timber-based fire door assemblies - Code of practice.

    At between 4mm and 10mm the gap is unlikely to sufficiently restrict the spread of smoke at ambient temperature.  Generally, the gap between the bottom edge of the door and the floor should not exceed 10mm for fire resistance performance.  Check with the particular door manufacturer for the specific tolerances.

  7. Whether BM TRADA allows surveyors to use their documents is a matter for them, so I would advise you to contact BM TRADA Q mark. 

    In terms of a BM TRADA Q mark certificated door requiring remedial works, recommending that a Q mark door maintenance company be contacted to make the repairs is sensible as the Q mark company should be able to complete the works in-scope so that the original certification is retained. 

  8. In order for a timber-based fire door to meet FD30(s) status:

    A) The gap at the threshold should be 3mm maximum

    OR

    B) The gap at the threshold should be 10mm max and with a flexible seal installed to seal the gap under the door, in the door-closed position. The seal must not cause the door to bind on the floor and so impede the self-closing action.

    Reference: BS 8214: 2016 Timber-based fire door assemblies - Code of practice. But applied in the context of the fire door being 'Nominal'.

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